By Ian Grant
Arsenal 1 Birmingham 0
Arsenal have a softness and fragility this season – unlike other years. And opposing teams are sensing it.
Birmingham had the best of the first quarter – shading chances 3/1. Two ex-Arsenal wingers, Pennant and Gray sent crosses in for Heskey and Pandiani and later Upson, another old boy came close. Arsenal lacked tempo and were their frustratingly indirect mode.
But as in the Newcastle match, the game shifted dramatically after the sending off, following Cunningham’s dismissal for a professional foul on Ljungberg.
Only problem, most of the chances, including the above free kick, fell to Reyes, who, somewhere in his psyche must lack the intention to hit the back of the net. Five out of six first half efforts were on target, but the majority at or close to Taylor.
He does everything at such speed, maybe he should develop ‘cool’ in front of goal. Maybe he feels the pressure of filling Henry’s boots too much.
Ljungberg making a trademark run from right to left was brought down by Johnson. Pires fired to Taylor’s left, but too close to him.
Birmingham adjusted in the second half, with Clapham moving centrally and were more solid. However Pires was clear and tried to place it, with a by now inspired Taylor tipping it on to the post.
Another lightning fast break saw Reyes put Ljungberg in for a first time shot. But Taylor parried.
More direct is Robin van Persie, who came on half way through the second half – and his shot with pace, power and intention, got a ‘deserved’ deflection.
RVP is starting to be called ‘super sub’ after scoring six from the bench last season and two this – but it may be just that he has a direct intention to score.
He took a chance from outside the area, Clapham stuck out a foot and Taylor for once was unbalanced and undone.
For the rest of the match Arsenal lived dangerously. A Campbell mistake nearly let in Pennant, but for Toure’s intervention.
Upson had a clear chance and Tebilly had the ball in the net – but it went out and back in from a corner.
On a positive note – Arsenal seem a much more dangerous aerial threat from corners – with Campbell and Gilberto. Even Fabregas at the near post represened a threat.
But overall, it is a worry that Arsenal took so long to break down a team of ten.
Even if this is an embryonic team, Arsenal certainly need to buy a couple of heavyweights in the transfer window.